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Former Bruin works hard at OU spring grid camp

Last year at this time, Bartlesville High School senior Mitch Tate prepared to cross the revered — but formidable — threshold into the University of Oklahoma football world.

Twelve months — a year tutelage as a preferred walk-on redshirt left defensive end — Tate (6-5, 250) is battling to earn playing time next season.

Even though the college grid wars don’t begin for another five months, it is what happens in March and April that could open the door for the former Bruin.

“It’s going very good,” Tate said Friday night about the Sooners’ spring football practice, which has another 11 sessions, and three scrimmages, remaining. “I’m moving up every day and getting more reps.”

One of Tate’s practice moments is included in a highlight clip, on the Oklahoma website, of the offensive line vs. defensive line.

He is matched up, one on one, against another redshirt freshman, massive Derek Farniok (6-9, 325).

On the signal, Tate rushes straight at Farniok, gets in his grill to stand him up, twists his shoulders and head to turn the big lineman and drives him straight back to the middle.

Tate is excited about accepting the challenge in making his mark this year on the defensive line. Two of last year’s primary defensive ends are back as seniors. They include David King (No. 90, 6-5, 273) and R.J. Washington (No. 91, 6-3, 248).

In addition, the Sooners signed high school seniors Mike Onuoha (Edmond Santa Fe, 6-7, 230) and Chares Tapper (6-3, 235) to a letters of intent.

That adds up to seven-to-nine defensive ends vying for a high spot on the depth chart.

And, Tate is right in the mix.

“It’s been just another good experience,” he said about his first spring football endeavor at Oklahoma. “It’s great to be out there working together and having fun together.”

And sharing the suffering and long hours.

Spring football workouts and film/skull sessions absorb up to six hours a day.

“We’re continuing to work just as hard as we can in trying to get better every day,” said Tate, who earned scout team Player of the Week honors several times last fall. “Our chemistry is a lot better on this team. We have high hopes for next year.”

The Sooners are emerging from a promising — but far from fulfilling — 10-3 campaign last fall, including a surprising 6-3 record in Big 12 games.

After bursting to a 6-0 record — including a 10-point win (23-13) against No. 5-ranked Florida State — Oklahoma stumbled to a 3-3 mark the next six outings, including a stunning losses to Texas Tech (41-38) and Baylor (45-38).

Following a red-faced 44-10 defeat at the hands of Oklahoma State, the Sooners finished up with a strong showing, routing Iowa, 31-14, in the Insight Bowl.

Tate said the team wants to build on last year’s positives and power Oklahoma to a stronger push toward the top of the nation..

His own personal goal, for the moment, is “just to keep rising on the depth chart and get a little playing time.”

Tate has three more weeks of spring ball to prove his credentials and be in a stronger position for two-a-days.

After spring football ends, “all we can do is work with our strength and conditioning coaches and voluntary stuff,” he said. “The coaches can’t have any direct involvement in our training.”

Sometime toward mid-summer, preseason practice will begin, but some of the pecking order of opportunities already will have been determined in spring football.

While Tate’s desire to excel and play is unquenchable, he’s also enjoying immersing himself in the major college ambiance as a Sooner.

“It’s great,” he said. “I love going out there and competing and making friends with everybody on the team.”